Gary, Indiana: Tuesday, January 14, 1919 (Turner Hall) … William Demetral b. George Thompson when the latter was unable to continue after 28-minutes (Thompson claimed to have been fouled when hit in the groin) (the referee did not disqualify Demetral for his actions) (Demetral had to throw Thompson twice in 60-minutes) (Demetral weighed 185 pounds and Thompson weighed 147) … John Pappas b. Pete Demetroff by decision after 60-minutes (Demetroff refused to wrestle following the time-limit, the referee gave the match to Pappas) (Pappas was billed as the champion of Camp Hodge) … Wasiles b. Henry Stoeff by forfeit (Stoeff failed to appear) *Among those on the Gary YMCA wrestling team in early 1919 was champion and leader Karl Kunert and George Tragos, who competed at 158 pounds. Gary, Indiana: Wednesday, January 22, 1919 (Gary Theatre) … Jim Londos b. Paul Martinson (DQ) (Martinson used an illegal stranglehold) (Martinson was billed as the American Light Heavyweight Champion) (Londos was billed as the Greek Heavyweight Champion) … World Middleweight Title Claimant Lou Talaber b. John Petak (Des Moines) (2-0) (Petak was billed as the Iowa State Middleweight Champion) … Tony Bokich b. Jack Smith (15:30) (Bokich was billed as the Indiana Middleweight Champion) (Smith was billed as the Illinois Middleweight Champion) … Louis Pergantis b. Charles Peterson (2-0) (Pergantis won in 26:57 with a toehold and the second fall by forfeit) (Pergantis was billed as the Camp Custer Champion) (eterson was billed as the Wisconsin Middleweight Champion) … (promoter: David Werner) … (matchmaker: Christopher) … (referee: Barney) Gary, Indiana: Wednesday, February 5, 1919 (Gary Theater) … World Heavyweight Title Claimant Marin Plestina b. Harold Christensen (2-0) … World Middleweight Title Claimant Lou Talaber and Lou Pergantis drew (60:00) … The Masked Marvel b. Frank Burns (2-0) … (promoter: Werner) … (matchmaker: Christopher) … (referee: Tony Bokich) Note: Plestina’s manager Joe Marsh offered $1,000 to any wrestler who could pin Plestina. *The Friday, February 14, 1919 edition of the Gary Evening Post stated that promoter Lou Christopher was going to stage a "world's middleweight mat tournament" and the winner was going to receive a $500 title belt. The tournament was going to begin on March 5 at the Gary Theater. Among the wrestlers expected to participate were Lou Talaber, Louis Pergantis, Tom Rolewitz, Tony Bokich, Billy Schober, Johnny Meyers,a nd Steve Leatscke. The paper reported that "last year the middleweight tournament was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was a wonderful success." Lou Christopher was the manager of Tony Bokich, who was a wrestler and teacher from Gary, Indiana. He taught wrestling at Emerson and Froebel night schools. He was a talented amateur, trained by George Pinneo of the Gary YMCA. *The Saturday, February 15, 1919 edition of the Gary Evening Post reported that "fifty entries" for the middleweight tournament was estimated by promoter Lou Christopher. The referee was going to be Ed Smith, the judges were F.H. Barney, Harry Rosen, and Shadow White. Joe Morris was the timekeeper. The weight limit had not yet been decided. Christopher believed that all wrestlers between 150 and 165 should be eligible to compete. Those who entered were: John Borden, Aurora, Illinois Ben Reuben, Chicago, Illinois Jim Demetral, Detroit, Michigan Waino Ketonen, Duluth, Minnesota John Kilonis, Norfolk, Virginia John Pappas, Camp Dodge, Iowa Harry Dickson, Milwauke, Wisconsin John Abrahamson, Chicago, Illinois Jack Smith, Elgin, Illinois Pete Katausky, Chicago, Illinois Ole Olson, Akron, Ohio Billy Schober, Indianapolis, Indiana Johnny Meyers, Chicago, Illinois Louis Pergantis, Gary, Indiana The Masked Marvel Charles Petersen, Madison, Wisconsin Steve Leatschke, St. Louis Lou Talaber, Chicago, Illinois Gary, Indiana: Thursday, May 18, 1961 (Memorial Auditorium) ... "Seaman" Art Thomas vs. The Sicillians ... Fred Atkins vs. Primo Carnera ... tag team match ... (promoter: William "Teeny" Kranz) Research by Tim Hornbaker October 22, 2010 |
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